A struggling Hernando County elementary school has a new principal at the helm.
School leaders hope Michael Maine can turn things around this year at Spring Hill Elementary.
The first day of school is just days away in Hernando and work continues at Spring Hill Elementary. The school is going through a transformation, it's getting a new start and Michael Maine is at the wheel.
"Schools need to be a bright place for students to feel empowered to learn and for staff to feel comfortable and safe to have a working environment they are proud of," Maine said.
For the past few years Spring Hill Elementary has not been a bright spot in the school district. Back in 2009 it was an "A" school. Right now it's on the verge of getting an "F". Maine took over as principal in July to turn things around.
"We need to get back to that place where we were one of the top performing elementary schools in the district," he said.
Maine says the school was dirty, moral is low and student behavior is an issue, so he's changing the school's culture from the inside out. That's from new rules to new landscaping, and you can already feel the positivity growing.
Mirsonia Robles has been teaching at the school for about six years and she's good with all the change. "It gives you this new energy to start the school year which is very positive," she said.
Maine says when students show up for the first day of school, things will look and feel very different.
"An "A" is on my mind," he said. "Raising the bar, high expectations. "The "A" is what we need to achieve."
Strong words from a man who has big plans for a struggling school.
Michael Maine knows something about good schools. He was the principal at an "A" school before he went over to Spring Hill Elementary.